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singing | zanger1_131Hz - zanger1_220Hz - zanger1_392Hz - zanger2_220Hz - zanger2_392Hz - zanger2_659Hz - zanger2_880Hz - | |
singing vowels at high pitch | ||
| Singing at high pitches has interesting acoustical consequences. An increasing fundamental will approach the first formant, in the first place the vowels /i/ and /u/ which have a low first formant [with F1 around 250 to 300 Hz. This will lead to acoustic coupling between vocal tract and glottis with great difficulties for singing. If the fundamental raises beyond the first formant this will lead to a dramatic reduction in vocal intensity, because the first formant resonance cannot be used properly anymore. Since a singer wants to avoid these consequences, he or she will raise the first formant frequency beyond the fundamental, by widening the opening of the mouth. Although the power of the voice will be maintained in this way, the intelligibility of the vowels will decrease. This is demonstrated in the sung vowels in this group, sung by a professional baritone and a mezzo-soprano singer. |  listen to demonstration  technical details  text/transcript  | |
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zanger1_131Hz Vowels sung in a neutral manner by a baritone singer at a fundamental frequency of 131 Hz (C3). | |
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zanger1_220Hz Vowels sung in a neutral manner by a baritone singer at a fundamental frequency of 220 Hz (A3). | |
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zanger1_392Hz Vowels sung in a neutral manner by a baritone singer at a fundamental frequency of 392 Hz (G4). | |
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zanger2_220Hz Vowels sung in a neutral manner by a mezzo-soprano singer at a fundamental frequency of 220 Hz (A3). | |
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zanger2_392Hz Vowels sung in a neutral manner by a mezzo-soprano singer at a fundamental frequency of 392 Hz (A3). | |
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zanger2_659Hz Vowels sung in a neutral manner by a mezzo-soprano singer at a fundamental frequency of 659 Hz (E5). | |
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zanger2_880Hz Vowels sung in a neutral manner by a mezzo-soprano singer at a fundamental frequency of 880 Hz (A5). | |
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